2020 Domaine Anita Moulin-a-Vent Coeur de Vigneronne Beaujolais

The Beaujolais resurgence is being led in a big part by women winery owners and winemakers. One of those women is Anita Kuhnel who owns Domaine Anita. A 2021 regional report by James Suckling called her out specifically. Noting that she founded the Domaine in 2015, the report comments that “her twin obsessions with quality and strictly vinifying each plot of vineyard separately earned her two 95-plus ratings in our report. Her wines are concentrated and plush.”

Anita’s viticultural philosophy is one of sustainable viticulture, with minimal treatments, green harvesting, and strong canopy management. Those practices certainly helped to create this fine wine but so did the old vines that are about 60 years old. They grow in the Aux Caves region of the Moulin-a-Vent Cru with its sandy soils infiltrated with manganese. 

Anita, assisted by Guy Marion, former head of winemaking at Georges Duboeuf, produces several excellent wines, and this Moulin-a-Vent Coeur de Vigneronne is one of the critics’ favorites. Suckling calls it the "dark and sensual soul of Moulin-a-Vent,” and Wine Enthusiast makes note of its "age-worthy structure, firm tannins, and impressive concentration.”

In Suckling’s report, he noted that only 10% of the wines from the region received a score of 95 or better. That makes this wine one of the top 10% wines in the entire region. Those who already are sold on the Beaujolais resurgence and those who are curious to taste what it’s all about should jump on this excellent wine that’s also a fantastic value.  

Aging: 11 months in oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: 100% Gamay from old vines. Aromas of jammy black fruits, rose scents, roasted mocha notes, and hints of vanilla and spices. Beautiful structure, firm and patinated tannins.